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Return to teaching after five years as a teaching assistant

I would like some advice about return to teaching courses and whether or not they are worth doing. I qualified with a BA (Hons) Primary Education (Early Years) in 2005 but didn't feel ready to go straight into a teaching post. I took a job as a TA and became settled. I have been working in the same primary school for nearly six years now and have recently completed three continuous years in the EYFS. Now I am considering returning to teaching as I feel ready to make that next step now.

There is an RTT course coming up in Spring 2012 in my local area. I have applied for teaching jobs for this September but have had no success in gaining any interviews. I think this is because although I have had experience in the classroom it is not in a teaching capacity as I am employed as a teaching assistant. This is very annoying as I just can't seem to get any recognition for the experience that I could bring to a teaching post and I don't know how to get it recognised!

I would like some advice as to whether or not it would be worth completing the RTT course next year in preparation for job hunting for the 2012/13 academic year? The thing holding me back is that my TA post is permanent and I would probably need to leave my job to do my course. I really am in two minds. Would the RTT course put me in a competitive position alongside NQTs?